Tennis game set scoreboard



June 2, 1970 F. c. sTENGEL 3,515,092

TENNIS GAME SET SCORE BOARD Filed April 25, 1969 INVENTOR FRJlTz c.STENGEL United States Patent O 3,515,092 TENNIS GAME SET SCOREBOARDFritz C. Stengel, Drawer P, Mason, Tex. 76856 Filed Apr. 23, 1969, Ser.No. 818,566 Int. Cl. A63b 71 06' U.S. Cl. 116-120 6 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A color coded, display scoreboard designed to informspectators and players of the games won and progress towards set win.Two (2) sets of six (6) semi-circular color coded indicators are mountedand concealed in the scoreboard. When the game is Won a players game winindicator is rotated out of the concealed position to the displayedposition. Scoring progresses from the bottom, and in the absence of atie set, the rst player to win six (6) games is indicated by rotatingthe set indicator into the display position. A player ip panel in thebottom of the board indicates by color coding the respective player oneach side of the net. t

Heretofore visible Scoreboards or scoring indicators have not beengenerally employed in the game of tennis. In tournament play, withseveral courts in an area being simultaneously used by players, aquestion discreetly asked of the scorekeeper was the common practice. Nodevice particularly adapted for displaying the status or progress of thegame of tennis is in general use.

An object was to provide a visible indicator for players and spectatorsparticularly suited for tournament play.

Another object was to provide an indicator for use in association with anet post or so approximately situated as to identify players andprogress of the competition on an individual court.

The device is generally characterized as an elongated display panelapproximately forty (40) inches long and six (6) inches wide. Numeralsare progressively displayed on the board from the bottom to the top-one(1) through ve near the top of the board is a set win symbol S. Mountedinternally of the board rotating out to indicate win on each side of theboard is a series of six (6) semicircular or half moon color coded winindicators. They are rotated out as the games are won in progressionfrom bottom to the top of the board. The set symbol S is rotated when aset is won.

With the view to providing a detailed description drawings have beenprovided illustrating the construction of the device and its use.Reference is now made to the drawings wherein identical referencecharacters will Ibe used to refer to identical or equivalent componentsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an elevation View of the tennis scoreboard simulating itsactual use to indicate the progress of a theoretical competition towardset win.

FIG. 2 is a side or edge View of the device illustrating its narrowestdimension.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view depicting an individual semi-circular gameor set indicator.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section of the color coded player indicatortaken on line 4 4 of IFIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

IFIG. 5 is a perspective View of the board mounting bracket secured to anet post.

The tennis game set scoreboard may be constructed utilizing a variety ofmaterials such as wood, pressed board, aluminum and plastic. The basicbody of the device is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is referred to asthe board 10. In a preferred embodiment, a board forty i ce (40) incheslong, six (6) inches wide and one-half (1/2) inch thick was utilized. Aseries of indicator recesses 11 are cut or constructed in each edge ofthe board 10 and semi-circular indicators 12 are pivotally mounted inthe recesses 11 on indicator axles 13. The rotation of the indicators 12in both the exposed and concealed position is limited by the indicatorstops 14. The axles 13 and stops 14 are of conventional construction ofmetal ybolts or pins.

The board 10 is provided with a board mounting pin 15 secured to thelower edge of the board 10 which is utilized in conjunction with theboard mounting bracket 16 for convenience in attaching the board 10 tothe tennis net post 17 for display in use.

Referring to FIG. 5, the bracket 16 is constructed including a bracketbase 18, a bracket body 19 and bracket socket 20. The bracket 16 issecured to the net post 17 by an upper 21 and lower retaining band 22.These bands 21 and 22 :may be similar in construction to the widely usedhose clamping device which are screw tightened. When the bracket 16 issecured to the post 17, the board mounting pin 15 is placed in thebracket socket 20 which retains the board 10 in the normal displayposition for use.

The board 10 may be constructed with a color coded player flip panel 23in the center of the lower edge of the board 10. A panel recessed 24 iscut or formed in the lower edge of the board 10 and the flip panel 23 isretained in the recess 24 by a panel mounting pin 25. Referring to FIG.4, some of the details of the construction and mounting of the player ippanel 23 is illustrated.

The indicators 12 are rotatably mounted in the outer edge of the board10 and color coded for identification and use. Any contrasting colorsmay be used but for the purpose of illustration, yellow and red havebeen selected. Referring to FIG. 1, the indicators on the left edge ofthe board positioned progressively from the bottom up are yellow gameone (1) indicator 26 the yellow game two (2) indicator 27. A series iscontinued through game three (3) 28, four (4) 29 and five (5) 30. At thetop edge of the series is the yellow set indicator 31. The red series ofgame set indicators are repeated on the right or opposite edge of theboard as red game indicator one (1) 32, game two (2) 33, three (3) 34,four (4) 35, ve (5) 36, and red set indicator 37.

Conspicuously painted or constructed on the outer face of the board 10are the series of game numerals corresponding to the color coded gameindicators. This series of game numerals progress from the bottom of theboard 10 upward and are respectively game numerals one 1) 38, two (2)39, three (3) 40, four (4) 41 and five (5) 42 and a large S is utilizedfor the set symbol 43.

As described above, the device of board 10 is secured to the boardmounting bracket 16 by means of a board mounting pin 15. The bracket 16is securely mounted on the net post 17. A color is assigned to eachplayer or team. School colors might be used or a color used for the hometeam and'white used for the visiting team. As play progresses and gameswon, the garne indicators are tilted out of t he board 10. If the yellowteam wins the first three games, indicators 26, 27 and 28 are rotatedinto the display position. Assuming the red team wins the next threegames, the indicators 32, 33 and 34 are rotated into the displayposition. The first team to win six (6) games would be the set winnerand the yellow set indicator 31 or the red set indicator 37 used to soindicate. In event of a deuce or tie set, all indicators except theyellowr five (5) 30 and the red ve (5) 36 game indicators are returnedto the concealed position. As the playoff progresses, the gameindicators 12 are progressively rotated starting again with the yellowone (1) 26 and the red one (1) 32. The iirst player in lead by two gameswins this set and the set indicator, either yellow 31 or red 37, isrotated.

Since most matches are played on a basis of two out of three sets, one(l) S symbol 43 is considered to be adequate. It would be possible,however, to provide an additional S set position and additional setindicators if desired. For use by schools or club teams the device maybe constructed and used eliminating player ip panel 23. In such a case,it is suggested that a color be utilized for indicating the home teamand white for the visiting team. For intramural or intra-clubcompetition, the player ilip panel 23 is valuable. The color coded gameindicators 12 are for example, coded yellow and red. The flip panel 23is similarly color coded, the panel 23 is rotated as the players changesides of the court as the set progresses and the player flip panel 23 isrotated or flipped around the mounting pin 25 in the recess 24 to exopserespective color coded side on the side of the net facing the respectiveplayer or team. Having described the construction use of my in` ventionin detail, what I claim is all equivalent constructions or equivalentmodifications not departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A scoreboard comprising:

(a) an elongated rst body member having a top and bottom portion and afirst and second edge,

(b) an elongated second .-body member having a top and bottom portionand a rst and second edge.

(c) means for securing and retaining the rst and second body memberstogether as a unitary structure,

(d) a multiplicity of arcuate semi-circular recesses constructed in thecontacting surface of the rst and second body member adjacent the rstand second edge,

(e) a series of semi-circular game indicators rotatably and tiltablymounted in said arcuate semi-circular recesses,

(f) a multiplicity of indicator axles positioned at the radial center ofsaid arcuate semi-circular recesses Cil rotatably and tiltably securingsaid game indicators in said arcuate recesses, and

(g) indicator stop means positioned between the said rst and said secondbody member projecting through said arcaute recess in the lower portionthereof at such a position as to stop the rotation of the said gameindicators selectively in the concealed and displayed position.

2. The invention of claim 1 including a series of game numeralsprogressively positioned from the bottom to the top of said scoreboard.

3. The invention of claim 2 including a set S symbol adjacent the top ofsaid scoreboard.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said semi-circular gameindicators are uniformly color coded.

5. The invention of claim 1 including a color coded player flip panelrotatably mounted in said scoreboard.

6. The invention of claim 1 including:

(a) a scoreboard mounting pin secured to the bottom of said scoreboard,(b) a scoreboard mounting bracket constructed and arranged to receiveand retain said pin, and (c) means for securing said `bracket to anupright supporting structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 289,566 12/1883 Samuel 116-134877,443 1/1908 Maxeld 116-134 XR 2,784,972 3/1957 Mater 116-134 XR2,798,320 7/1957 Montalto 116-134 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 22,946 1899 4GreatBritain.

LOUIS I. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner

